Hugo Boss

Infobox_Company
company_name = Hugo Boss AG
company_
company_type = Public (Xetra: [http://deutsche-boerse.com/dbag/dispatch/de/isg/gdb_navigation/listing?module=InOverview_Equi&wp=DE0005245534&foldertype=_Equi&wplist=DE0005245534&active=overview&wpbpl= BOS3] ) | foundation = 1923
location_city = flagicon|GER Metzingen
location_country = Germany
key_people = Claus-Dietrich Lahrs, CEO
Giuseppe Vita, Chairman
industry = Consumer Goods
products = Textile - Apparel clothing
revenue = profit € 1.632 billion (2007)
num_employees = 9,700 (2008)
parent = Valentino Fashion Group
homepage = [http://www.boss.com www.boss.com]
footnotes =
intl = yes

Hugo Boss AG is a fashion house based in Metzingen, Germany, that specializes in high-end menswear apparel. It is named after its founder, Hugo Ferdinand Boss (1885–1948).

Today

In 1987, Boss Orange for men was launched described as sporty and casual separating itself from the trendy Hugo brand and the sophisticated Boss Black brand. Boss Green is a completely sporty brand selling items designed for a sporty look.

The company's products, divided over three brands, are available throughout the world in 103 countries and more than 5,002 retail stores. These brands are "Boss", "Hugo", and since 2004, "Baldessarini". The latter, Baldessarini GmbH, is a more independent business unit which focuses on a more prestigious image than its two sister brands. It sells, like the other Hugo Boss brands, clothing, shoes, fragrances and accessories but will leave Hugo Boss after the Spring/Summer 2007 collection has been sent to boutiques. This is due to the newly launched premium Boss line, Boss Black Selection, outselling Baldessarini. Baldessarini fashion recently sold for up to €9m (Aug 2006) to Ahlers AG - a fashion brand holding company. Werner Baldessarini will continue to design the collections; he will also be in charge of marketing.

Today's sub-brands for men include: Boss Black/Boss Black Selection, Boss Green, Boss Orange, Hugo, and Baldessarini. For women: Boss Black, Boss Orange (announced in July 2005 for Spring/Summer 2006 launch) and Hugo. Also part of the brand are Lifestyle Accessories.

All fragrance brands (Hugo, Boss and Baldessarini) are owned by Procter & Gamble.

Moss Bros Group hold the exclusive UK licence for the Hugo Boss brand.

Involvement in World War II

The all-black uniform of the Nazi Schutzstaffel paramilitary force from 1932 until 1945 was designed by SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr. Karl Diebitsch and Walter Heck (graphic designer) and made by the Hugo Boss company, some workers being prisoners of war forced into labor. [ [http://americandefenseleague.com/hilknow1.htm Washington Post Staff Writer Robin Givhan's article.] ] [ [http://www.metzingen-zwangsarbeit.de/Kober-Studie/7_Die_Firma_Hugo_Boss/body_7_die_firma_hugo_boss.html Zwangsarbeit in Metzingen (Forced Work in Metzingen)] ]

In the third quarter of 1933, Hugo Boss, the founder of clothing company, designed black uniforms for Heinrich Himmler's SS, to replace the SA brown shirts. He also designed the Hitler Youth uniforms. [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E4DF153FF936A2575BC0A961958260|title=Hugo Boss Acknowledges Link to Nazi Regime |date=1997-08-15|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-09-25] [White, Constance C. R. "Patterns: Dealing with Hugo Boss's Nazi tie." "The New York Times" 19 August 1997: A20.]

ee also

*Hugo Boss Prize

References

External links

* [http://www.hugoboss.com Hugo Boss official site]
* [http://www.no1-in-beauty.com/Articles/hugo_boss.htm A biography of Hugo Boss]